1. The Cross Centered Life

2. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:17-18

4. What's your life centred on?

5. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2

6. Be Thou my Vision,
O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping,
Thy presence my light.

7. Be Thou my Wisdom and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee,
and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father,
and I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling,
and I with Thee one.

8. Be Thou my battle shield,
Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity,
Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter,
Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward,
O Power of my power.

9. Riches I heed not,
nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only,
first in my heart,
High King of Heaven,
my Treasure Thou art.

10. High King of Heaven
after victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys,
O bright Heavn’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision,
O Ruler of all.

11. Be Thou my Vision,
O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping,
Thy presence my light.

12. Chapter
1. Restating the obvious
2. What's your life centred on
3. Breaking the rules of legalism
4. Unloading condemnation
5. What you feel vs what is real
6. The cross centred day
7. Never move on

13. The main lesson:
A legalist is...

14. The main lesson:
A legalist is someone who seeks to achieve
forgiveness from God
and acceptance by God through obedience to God.

15. Discussion time #1:
Share with your neighbour or in groups of 3 or 4, the most helpful thing you read in chapter 3 of The Cross Centered Life and say why you found it helpful.

16. Have you drifted into legalism?
Discussion time #2:
Have you drifted into legalism?
Do you often find that you are more aware of your sin (what you have or have not done, said or thought) than of what Jesus accomplished on the cross?
When you think of God's attitude towards you, do you think of God as disappointed with you or delighting over you?
Do you lack holy joy? Do you look to your “spinning plates” for the confidence – even right – to approach God?

17. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11

18. Life Perfect holiness Death Growing in holiness Conversion No holiness
I am washed, sanctified and justified because I know Christ died for my sins
Perfect holiness
I want to be what I already am...
Death
Growing in holiness
I must be good
Conversion
No holiness
Birth
Life

19. Song:
For the Cross

20. Unloading Condemnation
Next Week
Unloading Condemnation